Where do we come from? Who created us? Why are we here? These questions have puzzled us since the dawn of time, but when it became apparent to Jon Stewart and the writers of
The Daily Show that the world was about to end, they embarked on a massive mission to write a book that summed up the human race: What we looked like; what we accomplished; our achievements in society, government, religion, science, and culture - all in a lavishly produced audiobook.

True to form Stewart!

Overall

4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-08-10

There is no better way to get your point across than to push it with a sarcasm stick, and Jon certainly knows how to do that. If you like The Daily Show, sorry, it has nothing to do with it. The book is a narrative for extraterrestial visitors which explains the pathetic state of our planet. Funny, sarcastic, sometimes a little over-the-top, but so true. Especially loved Cenac and Oliver's narrations.

Death in Paradise

A Jesse Stone Novel

By:
Robert B. Parker

Narrated by:
Robert Forster

Length: 5 hrs and 5 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
270

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
173

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
170

The local cops haven't seen anything like this, but Jesse's L.A. past has made him all too familiar with floaters. This girl hadn't committed suicide; she hadn't been drowned; she'd been shot and dumped, discarded like trash. Before long it becomes clear that she had a taste for the wild life; and her own parents can't be bothered to report her missing, or even admit that she once was a child of theirs. All Jesse has to go on is a young man's school ring on a gold chain, and a hunch or two.

2 out of 5 stars

"he said"

He said, she said....

Overall

2 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 09-13-10

Love Robert B. Parker, love his books, and especially love his Jesse Stone character who is a good solid man's man, tells it like it is. This is a good "read", light on the mystery but the reason for my two star rating is the constant, annoying "Jesse said" and "she said" which got under my skin. Driving 150 miles somewhere this week? This is the right book, nothing too complicated, few characters to keep up with, and the ending is rather predictable.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

The Help

By:
Kathryn Stockett

Narrated by:
Jenna Lamia,
Bahni Turpin,
Octavia Spencer,
and others

Length: 18 hrs and 19 mins

Unabridged

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
36,643

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
22,620

Story

5 out of 5 stars
22,640

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope,
The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

5 out of 5 stars

What a great surprise!

An incredible jewel !!

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-11-10

As a "non-fan" of historical fiction, I was not interested in reading this book, the Jan/10 selection of my local library readers club. I thought.. way too long, fiction, depressing and on and on. So I decided to use my credit to purchase the audiobook that way I could plug the earpieces and knit. I am so glad I did for this is the jewel of the crown and by far the best purchase I've made at Audible. The characters are well rounded, the readers' voices, intonation and narration are superb and the stories of these wonderful women are inspirational. I hope this is the beginning of a long list of books by Miss Stockett, a wonderful storyteller.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

The Power of Myth: Programs 1-6

By:
Joseph Campbell,
Bill Moyers

Narrated by:
Joseph Campbell,
Bill Moyers

Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins

Original Recording

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,853

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,323

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,315

An exhilarating journey into the mind and spirit of a remarkable man, a legendary teacher, and a masterful storyteller, conducted by TV journalist Bill Moyers for their acclaimed PBS series.

5 out of 5 stars

A series that changed my life

Joseph Campbell - My Hero

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-07-09

Sometimes you like a book for its plot, sometimes for its characters, sometimes the locality will seduce you. But to read Joseph Campbell is a treat for the soul, and you read (or listen) to his stories for its words; like chocolate for the mind, food for the soul. This particular book talks about myths and how man has one basic idea or awe and in order to make sense of it, turns it into a god or goddess. We may think our religiousness is unique to our race or ethnicity, but Campbell explains to us that it's the same basic universal idea just blended around to fit our individual circumstance. I watched the original PBS series, and it's a joy to find this keepsake.

17 of 22 people found this review helpful

Skeleton Justice

By:
Linda Kenney,
Dr. Michael M. Baden

Narrated by:
Michele Santopietro

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3 out of 5 stars
10

Performance

4 out of 5 stars
5

Story

4 out of 5 stars
5

The case begins with New York City on high alert for a most bizarre serial killer - a strange kind of thief who stalks his victims for the purpose of extracting a vial of blood, earning him the tabloid nickname the Vampire. As the attacks become more and more vicious and escalate to torture and then to murder, Jake and Manny begin to suspect there is a connection between the killer's seemingly random victims.

1 out of 5 stars

Not For Me.

How dissapointing !!

Overall

1 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 09-30-09

When HBO's Autopsy was on, I was glued to the TV. Dr. Baden comes across as eloquent, riveting and master of his art. Then comes this book, this awful, boring and silly book. Who cares about the fashion accesories, I wanted an interesting thriller, which unfortunately never materializes. With my deepest respect to Dr. Baden, he's may be a great scientist, but has a lot of learning to do as an author.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By:
Douglas Adams

Narrated by:
Stephen Fry

Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
29,026

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
24,538

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
24,538

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

5 out of 5 stars

HHTGH - Lightly Fried

Hitched a fun ride to the 70's

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 03-07-09

I'm no fan of science fiction but this book is a classic; it is hilarious in its absurdity. If you enjoy the humor of Monty Phyton, you'll love this book. And such a great reader! The intonation and British accent is a perfect match. Loved it, loved it...

22 of 25 people found this review helpful

Crisis

By:
Robin Cook

Narrated by:
George Guidall

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
518

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
224

Story

4 out of 5 stars
220

When Dr. Craig Bowman is served with a summons for medical malpractice, he's shocked, enraged, and more than a little humiliated. A devoted physician who works continuously in the service of others, he endured grueling years of training and is now a partner in an exclusive concierge medical practice. No longer forced to see more and more patients while spending less and less time with each one just to keep his office door open, he now provides the kind of medical care he is trained to do.

5 out of 5 stars

Not disappointed!!!

Slow at first, but delivers

Overall

3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-31-09

Unlike his other novels, I find books starring Cook's Jack Stapleton character have a slow, rather boring start. This is no exception, but it manages to deliver halfway through the book. Very repetitive at first, then 2 hours into the book the action starts and a well-defined action plot seals the end. However, regardless of how hard I try, the Laurie character annoys me and that is the spoiler for me.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos and Letters

The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire

By:
Richard Hack

Narrated by:
Dan Cashman

Length: 18 hrs and 2 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
598

Performance

4 out of 5 stars
300

Story

4 out of 5 stars
301

In "the most exciting bio of the year," Richard Hack uses recently uncovered (and in some cases, recently declassified) personal letters, court testimony, FBI files, autopsy reports and exclusive interviews to reveal the man who was a legendary lover, record-setting aviator, award-winning film producer, talented inventor, ultimate eccentric, and, for much of his lifetime, the richest man in the United States.

GOOD READ

Too weird

Overall

3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 12-05-08

As a young woman, I read Howard Hughes' adventures, or misadventures, in the tabloids. Later, when he died, I read about his peculiarities. Intrigued by Hughes' life, I bought this audiobook, it is very well written, read by a great narrator, and goes into great detail about the absurdity surrounding his early years and how it affected his adult life. Good read if you'd like to know what molded an outstanding man. I found way too much detail of the absurd and while "reading" it had the same queasy feeling when, as a small child, I went into a carnival booth showing the "spider woman" - revolted yet at the same time fascinated

2 of 8 people found this review helpful

The Dupin Stories

By:
Edgar Allan Poe

Narrated by:
Kerry Shale

Length: 4 hrs and 13 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
33

Performance

4 out of 5 stars
21

Story

4 out of 5 stars
20

Auguste Dupin, investigator extraordinaire, was the remarkable creation of Edgar Allan Poe. Written in the 1840s, Poe presented the acutely observant, shrewd but idiosyncratic character who, with his chronicler, provided the inspiration for the more famous Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Excellent narration

Does it get any better than this ?

Overall

5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-07-08

Although I had read the book many years ago, I bought this audiobook while undergoing chemotherapy. Good choice !! There is nothing more relaxing than listening to the soothing voice of the narrator reading a well-written romance, a classic love story of redemption and the triumph of true love. Romance will never get any better than this.